Lexical Definition

‎יָבַם‎ yâbam (yaw-bam') be brother-in-law ^H:V
a primitive root of doubtful meaning; used only as a denominative from ‎יָבָם‎

perform the duty of a husband's brother, marry.

• to marry a (deceased) brother's widow

1) (Piel) to perform levirate marriage, perform the duty of a brother-in-law
1a) the duty due to a brother who died childless - to marry his widow and have a son for his name

See Greek: ἀδελφός · ἐπιγαμβρεύω · συνοικέω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[‎יָבַם‎] verb denominative, only Pi`el do the duty of ‎יָבָם‎ to a brother's widow; Perfect ‎וְיִבְּמָהּ‎ consecutive Deut 25:5 and shall do a brother-in-law's office to her; Imperative ‎יַבֵּם אֹתָהּ‎ Gen 38:8 (i.e. ‎אֵשֶׁת אָחִיךָ‎ v^a); Infinitive suffix ‎לֹא אָבָה יַבְּמִי‎ Deut 25:7 (on nominal suffix as object of infinitive, see Ges^{«GKC:115»§ 115} R. 2 near the end). ‎יַבְנְאֵל‎, ‎יַבְנֶה‎, ‎יִבְנְיָה‎, ‎יִבְנִיָּה‎ see below ‎בנה‎. ‎יַבֹּק‎ see below ‎בקק‎ above‎יְבֶרֶכְיָ֫הוּ‎ see below ‎ברך‎ above‎יִבְשָׂם‎ see below ‎בשׂם‎ above

Brown-Driver-Briggs References